A Review of Max Weber s Thesis on The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism

A Review of Max Weber s Thesis on The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism Reviewed by: Nahom Eyasu Mekelle University College of Social Sciences and Languages Department of Sociology Translated by: Talcott Parsons Introduced by: Anthony Giddens Publishing Link: Routledge: London and Network February 09, 2016 Introduction This paper describes about the review of The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism, which was written by Max Weber, translated by Talcott Parsons, and introduced by Anthony Giddens in 2005 in the publishing link of Routledge: London and New work. Weber produced most of his major works in the late 1800s and early 1900s (Glatzer, 1998). Weber was identified more as a historian who was concerned with sociological issues, but in the early 1900s his focus grew more and more sociological (Glatzer, 1998). More specifically, Weber devoted much of his attention to ideas and their effect on the economy (Allen, 2004). Rather than seeing ideas as simple reflections of economic factors, Weber saw them as fairly autonomous forces capable of profoundly affecting the economic world (Allen, 2004). He certainly devoted a lot of attention to ideas, particularly systems of religious ideas, and he was especially concerned with the impact of religious ideas on the economy (Ritzer, 2011). In Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 168

The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (Weber, 1904 1905/1958), he was concerned with Protestantism, mainly as a system of ideas, and its impacts on the rise of another system of ideas, the spirit of capitalism, and ultimately on a capitalist economic system (Allen, 2004). Weber had a similar interest in other world religions, looking at how their nature might have obstructed the development of capitalism in their respective societies (Allen, 2004). In a wide-ranging historical study, Weber sought to understand why a rational economic system (capitalism) had developed in the West and why it had failed to develop in the rest of the world (Ritzer, 2011). Weber accorded a central role to religion in this process. At one level, he was engaged in a dialogue with the Marxists in an effort to show that, contrary to what many Marxists of the day believed, religion was not merely an epiphenomenon. Instead, it had played a key role in the rise of capitalism in the West and in its failure to develop elsewhere in the world (Ritzer, 2011). In general, the bench mark ideas of Max Weber on The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism were become from chapter one and two (Religious Affiliation and Social Stratification, and The Spirit of Capitalism), three (Luther s Conceptions of Calling), four (The Religious Foundations of Worldly Asceticism), and five (Asceticism and The Spirit of Capitalism) were from the works of Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Richard Baxter respectively. So, this paper comprises the introduction part (the main focusing area of the book), the main body part (the main idea of the thesis), and the last one is conclusion (restate the basic issues), and references have been involved. 1. Max Weber s Short Biographic Sketch (1864-1920) Weber was born in Erfurt, in.1864, in to a prominent family of in industrialists and civil servants. His mother was a pious protestant woman. His father was a lawyer, a member of the German parliament (Hadden, 1997: 123) On the way Weber was living in their family, his father and mother made a conflict on the issue of Weber. Young Max throwing his Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 169

father out of the house, and after which the latter his father was died of a stroke. These events were to have prolonged effects on Weber s own m mental and physical health. In 1892, he married Mariame Schnitger (Hadden et al 1997: 124). Weber was trained in law and received his PhD in that discipline in 1889 for a dissertation of medieval business organization (Salomon, 1935). Max Weber was a German polymath who excelled in many different fields including sociology, economy, history, law, jurisprudence and linguistics. He was written more than32 published sociology books (Burger, 1976). 2. The Main Concerning Area of the Thesis The main concerning area of Weber s study was to describe how the west developed a distinctively rational religious system (Protestant) that played a key role in the rise of rational economic system (capitalism) 3. Purpose Statement Each and every micro and macro sociologists have their own intentions to discuss about how social phenomena, social issues, in general social environments have been occurred for the benefits of individuals as well as society, organizations, institutions, and structures ( Turner, 1999). So, Max Weber s intention for studying The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism was that Weber wanted to illustrate how the origin of a peculiar spirit that eventually made modern rational capitalism in the Western Europe (Ritzer, 2011), to describe how the Protestant Ethic to societal domain and social carrier and their relationships to one another leads to a concern with social change (Kalbers, 1996), to explain the general issues of why Protestant institutions in the western world had grown progressively more rational while powerful barriers seemed to prevent a similar development in the rest of the world (Brubaker, 1984), and to identify relationship among a variety of the world s religions and the development only in the West of capitalist economy system (Schulctor, 1996). 4. The Rationales of the Author Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 170

Max Weber was one of the classical sociologists, who studied about The Protestant Ethic and the Sprit of Capitalism, Economy and Society, The Methodology of Social Sciences and on and on. So, the question is why Weber studied about sociology as a discipline? It has so many factors that Max Weber Studied about sociology as a discipline, but the main reasons for being studied sociology by Weber were: 1) The German of Weber s youth had rapidly industrialized, and this had left the country in a chaotic state with several constituencies vying for prominence in the setting of national and political agendas: Prussian Junkers (militaristic land owners) from land owners, new industrialists, and their recently proletalianized workers all represented faces contending for influence in shaping modern German. So, Weber wanted to keep German s national unity and cohesion, this is one of the causes that Weber wanted to study sociology (Hadden, 1997: 123-124). 2) Max Weber was strongly influenced by his pious protestant mother and his well industrialist father to study about The Protestant Ethic and the Sprits of Capitalism. He belied that The Protestant Ethic, the work of habits; the feelings of industriousness should be traced back through childhood socialization. So, Weber was under influence of his mother and father to study about sociology (Hadden, 1997: 123; Giddens 2005). 3) Weber was so much influenced by the ideas of Karl Marx in all about capitalism, religious, social stratifications: class, party, and about the means of production and consumption. So, Weber wanted to rejoin responding in such Marx s issues on his studies, which means he began to study about sociology in responding to the Karl Marx s ideology (Ritzer, 2011). 5. The Main Ideas of Weber on the Protestant Ethic and the Sprit of Capitalism Max Weber, the most significant sociologist, was dictating about religion, capitalism and social stratification during his popular period, Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 171

1903-1917 ( Giddens, 2005; Ritzer, 2011). The main works of Weber were so many, but the reviewer has focused on the main works of max Weber on his thesis: 5.1. Religious affiliation 5.2. Luther s conception of calling 5.3. Ascentism and the spirits of capitalism, and 5.4. Calvinism 5.1. Religious Affiliation A glance at the occupations statistics of any country of mixed religions composition brings to light with remarkable frequency a situation which has several times provoked discussion in the catholic press and catholic congress in Germany, namely, the fact that business leaders and owners of capitals, as well as the highest grades of skilled labour, and even more the higher technology and commercially trained personnel of modern enterprises are protestants. More specifically, the greater participation of protestant in the position of ownership and management in modern economic life may today be understood, in part at least, simply as a result of the greater material wealth they have inherited. But, the smaller proportion of catholic among the skilled labourer of modern industry. The Catholics show a stronger propensity to remain in their crafts and gymnasium, where as the Protestants are attracted to a larger extent in to the factories in order to fill the upper ranks of skilled labour and administrative positions. So, religious affiliation is not a cause of the economic conditions, but to a certain extent appears to be a result of them. In conclusion, the explanation of these cases, according to Weber, is undoubtedly that the mental and spiritual peculiarities acquired from the environment, here the type of education favoured by the religious atmosphere of the home community and the parental home, have determined the choices of occupation, and through it the profession career. 5.2. Luther s Conception of Calling According to Luther, the conception of calling mean the fulfillment of the obligations imposed up on the individual by this position in the world does not mean the way of living acceptably to God was not to surpass worldly morality in monastic ascentism. The monastic life is not only quite devoid of value as a means of justification before God, but he also looks Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 172

up on its renunciation of the duties of this world as the product of selfishness, withdrawing from temporal obligations. In contrast, labour in a calling appears to him as the out world expression of brotherly love. He approves the observation that the division of labour forces every individual to work for others. He strongly emphasized that the statement that the fulfillment of worldly duties are under all circumstances the only way to live acceptably to God. It and it alone is the will of God, and hence, every legitimate calling has exactly the same worth in the sight of God. This moral justification of world actively was one of the most important results of the reformation. Luther also believed that the puritan wanted to work in a calling; we are forced to do so. For when ascentism was carried out of the monastic cells in to everyday life and began to dominant worldly morality, it did its part in building the tremendous cosmos of the modern economic order, they are the means of overcoming the inner resistance to capitalist work habits, although they were ont established with this purpose or function in mind. 5.3. Ascentism and the Spirit of Capitalism In analyzing the relationship between the world s religions and the economy especially for the rise of capitalism, Weber developed a typology of the paths of salvation. Asceticism is the first broad type of religiosity, and it combines an orientation toward action with the commitment of believers to denying themselves the pleasures of the world. Ascetic religions are divided into two subtypes. Otherworldly asceticism involves a set of norms and values that command the followers not to work within the secular world and to fight against its temptations. Of greater interest to Weber, because it encompasses Calvinism, was inner worldly asceticism. Such a religion does not reject the world; instead, it actively urges its members to work within the world so that they can find salvation, or at least signs of it. The distinctive goal here is the strict, methodological control of the members patterns of life, thought, and action. Members are urged to reject everything unethical, esthetic, or dependent on their emotional reactions to the secular world. Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 173

Inner worldly ascetics are motivated to systematize their own conduct. Such inner worldly and other worldly ascentism has also two categories: the Worldly Protestant Ascentism Acted powerfully against the spontaneous enjoyment of possessions It restricted consumptions, especially of luxurious Freeing the acquisition of goods from the inhibitions of traditionalistic ethics The acquisition of good should be directed by the willing of God and law Approved the rational and utilitarian uses of wealth for the needs of individual and community Possession and temptations are evil Source: The Reviewer of this thesis, 2016 5.4. Calvinism According to Weber, a different ethical religious orientation was necessary to provide the devotion of daily work which the modern capitalist economic order was just beginning to require in part of Europe worldly protestant ascentism, and the worldly puritan ascentism. So, the differences between the two worldly ascentisms are trying to put below as soon as possible. Worldly Puritan Ascentism Acted powerfully for the spontaneous enjoyment of possessions We are being called to work for the purposes of consumptions; developed to a rational bourgeois economic life. Freeing the acquisition of goods from the inhibitions of traditionalistic ethics The acquisition of good should be directed by the willing of God Approved the area of the modern economic men The bourgeois economic life was come from the pressure of the temptation of wealth in overcoming the inner resistance to capitalist work habits. The prominent charismatic figures involved in this transition were Martin Luther and John Calvin. Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 174

Calvinism was the version of Protestantism that interested Weber most. One feature of Calvinism was the idea that only a small number of people are chosen for salvation. In addition, Calvinism entailed the idea of predestination; people were predestined to be either among the saved or among the damned. There was nothing that the individual or the religion as a whole could do to affect that fate. Yet the idea of predestination left people uncertain about whether they were among the saved. To reduce this uncertainty, the Calvinists developed that idea that signs could be used as indicators of whether a person was saved. People were urged to work hard, because if they were diligent, they would uncover the signs of salvation, which were to be found in economic success. In sum, the Calvinist was urged to engage in intense, worldly activity and to become a man of vocation. Calvinism, as an ethic, required self-control and a systematized style of life that involved an integrated round of activities, particularly business activities. So, the study of Calvinism has strongly linked to the rise of capitalism; it has three reasons why Calvinism has a good links with the rise of capitalism: First, capitalists could restlessly pursue their economic interests and feel that such pursuit was not merely self-interest but was, in fact, their ethical duty. Second, Calvinism provided the rising capitalist with sober, conscientious and unusually industrious workmen who clung to their work as to a life purpose willed by God. Third, Calvinism legitimized an unequal stratification system by giving the capitalist the comforting assurances that the unequal distribution of the goods of this world was a special dispensation of Divine Providence. So, there are the significant differences between Martin Luther and John Calvin on their religious and the rise of capitalism studies, their differences is attempting to put below here; Martin Luther It is necessary for the removal of special status for religious vocations John Calvin Worldly activities are the man of vocations Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 175

He had removed the negative connotations connected with everyday work Creating the every habits required by modern capitalism He stipulating that it is absolutely necessary to devote one s life to duty in one s earthly calling, duty to God Predestination indirectly required to modern capitalism Source: The Reviewer of the book, 2016 6. Methodology Despite the fact that Max Weber could not use research procedures and techniques properly (Ritzer, 2011), the focusing area of his methodology was holistic units and their separate parts as components fully integrated into a larger system of objective structures. So, the reviewer has illustrated his methodology as much as possible below: 6.1. Approximately Longitudinal Study Design Weber has used both cross sectional and longitudinal study design at the same time during his study. In longitudinal study, he studied the way that exploring Protestant doctrine was by prolong observation in various ways in which Protestants seemed attracted to business-oriented occupations and organized their daily lives in an especially rigorous fashion ( Giddens, 2005). In cross sectional study, he studied the reasons why some Asian countries like China and India couldn t see the rise of capitalism were: the absence of guarantee law and a rational administration and judiciary for china, and recruitment of labor, credit by the caste system for India one point in a time (Giddens, 2005; Ritzer, 2000:169) 6.2. Research Method Weber has used both quantitative and qualitative research methods (mixed research method) In quantitative research method, Weber s work on religion and capitalism involved in enormous body of cross cultural historical research method; here, as elsewhere, he did comparative-historical sociology (Giddens, Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 176

2005; Kalkerg, 1997). Weber was attempting to understand how western European institutions and courses of actions rose based on historical comparison methods. He used economic and religious motivations for actions in a particular case that simply help him to apply and/or compare precise concepts to particular historical cases and to investigate the real sources people s action (Richard, 1997: 136). Weber employed and/or used historical instances to focus on the unintended consequences of action as helped to produce change. He used the puritan intention to serve God was enacted in such a way that it had the unintended consequences of providing the disciplined habits necessary for the industrial capitalism. By comparing the grounds and consequences of actions in different historical contexts, Weber was able to give approximate meaningful definitions and analysis in what they are occurred (Antonio, 1985). Another aspect of Weber s methodology was his commitment to his study of causality. He was inclined to see the study of the causes of social phenomena. He operates with a multicausal approach in which hosts of interactive influences are very often effective causes. Weber was quite clear on the issue multiple causalities in his study of the relationships between Protestantism and the spirits of capitalism. Although he is sometimes interpreted ethic was one of the causal factors in the rise of modern sprit capitalism; Protestant Ethic was the independent variable of the spirits of capitalism. According to Weber, the causal (cause-effect relationships) knowledge on social sciences is meaningfully human conduct (action) is identified by reference to valuation and meanings in more probable. For this reason our criteria for causal explanation have a unique kind of satisfaction in the historical explanation of such as entity. Weber had used nomothetic (deductive) and ideographic (inductive) cases in explaining about the causality. (Salomon, 1935). In qualitative research method, Weber has applied Ideal type method to describe how economy and religious was being traced back to modern western societies ideally. So, economy and religion by themselves are not ideal type, but rather ethics, discipline, wealth, capital, and modern market place and on are the ideal types because they are conceptual Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 177

tools for religion and economy (Giddenes, 2005). And, Weber illustrated that the Puritan identifies the regular action of these believers orientation toward methodical work (Giddens, 2005). And, he widely discussed on ideal type was that Ideal type is a conceptual tool which brings together certain relationships and events of historical life in to a complex which is conceived of as internally consistent system to be applied for investigating theoretical investigations. The most important thing about ideal type is that they are heuristic devices; they are on the useful and helpful in doing empirical research and in understanding specific aspects of the social world. In Weber s view, the ideal type was to be derived inductively from the real world of social history. Weber rejects the idea of theoretical laws; he does use ideal type in various ways to create theoretical models. Thus, ideal type constitutes the theoretical building blocks for the construction of a variety of theoretical model Another method of his study was Verstehen. The German word for understanding is Verstehen. The term Verstehen was derived from a field known as hermeneutics. Hermeneutics was a special approach to the understanding interpretations of published writings. Its goal was to understand the thinking of the author as well as the basic structure of the text. Weber sought to extend this idea from the understanding of text to the understanding of social life (Ritzer, 2011). Weber believed that Verstehen is a systematic and rigorous research and a rational procedure of studying that understanding the subjective meanings of the individuals in human actions and inactions (Ritzer, 2011). Max Weber has also executed Documentary research method that the systematic use of printed or written materials for investigation - is often regarded as an also-ran. He used the German s declaration, August 9, 1771 for the purpose of investigate a man who has no good work was not a true believer (Giddens, 2005: 90). 6.3. Study Area Max Weber has covered China, India, Japan, and Western Europe societies in investigating why the rise of true capitalism has been occurred in western countries, and Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 178

why not occurred in China and India (Giddens, 2005) 6.4. Target Population The target population of Weber s Study was the society who were following in one religious, especially for the follower of Catholic Church, Confucianism, Hinduism, Judaism, Calvinism, Pietism, Methodism, Baptist Sects, Lutheran, Puritan Sects, and governments, judiciary bodies, capitalists, workers (Giddens, 2005). 6.5. Sampling Techniques Weber has mostly used non probable random sampling techniques during his study. The writer of the book has applied purposive or judgmental non random sampling from the selection of some selective countries from Asian countries to the observations of their religious because Weber need to informant so as to ensure his investigation in the selection of a few cases with some peoples for intensive study (Giddens, 2005). 6.6. Data Collection Instruments The author of the book has used both primary and secondary data that helping to collect and gather appropriate data for his study Primary data In primary data, the researcher has collected qualitative data from the selected continental countries. Observation: This data collection instrument was the author s qualitative data collection instrument in studying about how the structural barriers like few formals laws, the absence of central court and the irrational type of administrative structure were the causes that hindering the rise of capitalism in China and India (Giddens, 2005), he observed how the protestants are affluent, chose more technical fields of study, and how the Catholics are passing their times on learning of languages, philosophy and history (Giddens, 2005), Secondary data In this data collecting and gathering system, the author of this book has used catholic press and literature, bible, declarations, Benjamin Franklin s piece on Money, Credit and Man, John Calvin on Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 179

the idea of Calvinism, Martin Luther and Richard Baxter s pieces and books. 5.7. Data analysis Descriptive analysis Max Weber s study on The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism was employed different statistical methods, like frequency, average, and mean in order to show if the labor has used their time properly, they will incredibly rise up their wages, and the rise of capitalism at the same time. Comparison analysis The author of this book also used comparative analysis so as to compare the historical comparisons of the rationalization of economic institutions: the relationships between religious and economy on the rooted ideas of the German Historical School and the Marxist School of Economics Narrative analysis The author of this book was also narrating the life of capitalists in Germany in order to distinguish which works were accomplished by the Protestants and Catholics. 7. Max Weber and Karl Marx Dialogue The relationship between Marx and Weber has been the topic of considerable debate and research (Antonio and Glassmars, 1965). There is no simple way in which Weber was involved in a debate with the ghost of Marx (Salomon, 1935). There is high debating between Marx on Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism and Weber on the analysis of industrial capitalism, and Weber s Economy and Society and Marx s Capital (Turner, 1993: 3), Marx s concepts of alienations and Weber s concepts of rationalization (Lowith, 1993). Karl Marx s ideas on the points of the above issues, especially capitalism and religion were debated to the ideas of Max Weber. Let s see one by one 7.1. Marx and Weber Dialogue on Capitalism Marx believed that the secret of capitalism is that political powers have been transformed into economic relations in the purpose of exploiting the workers. Marx developed an important insight on the capitalist economic system is the primary cause of alienation. And, Marx understood capitalism in terms of its underlying production forces that shape the Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 180

systems of social relationships. So, Marx intends to reveal the internal contradictions that he hopes will inevitable transform capitalism (Antonio, 1985; Antonio and Glassmars, 1965; Allen, 2004). But, Max Weber believed on capitalism is that the system of capitalism was occurred when the individuals did their systematic work in a worldly calling, not for the purpose of political power and the exploitation of workers, the location of power in society is not exclusively related to ownership of means of production, but it is related to status and party affiliations (Weber, 1904 cited in Ritzer, 2011). He also stated that modern capitalism has begun to work of increasing the productivity of human labor by increasing its intensity, and none of the major spheres of society (political, legal, economic, and religious are equally dominant in society (Giddens, 2005:24; Allen, 2004; Antonio and Glassmars, 1965; Salomon, 1935). illusions of religion because capitalism is an independent variable of religion And, he famously refers to religion as the opiate of the people for sustaining the systems of capitalism because religion is the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of spiritless conditions. It is also the opium of the people. (Marx, 1843 quoted in Ritzer, 2011; Antonio and Glassmars, 1965). But for Marx Weber, in analyzing the relationship between the world s religions and the economy especially for the rise of capitalism, Inner worldly asceticism played its role on the rise of capitalism because capitalism is the dependent variable of religion, and Weber also believed that military and religious, political and juridical institutional systems are functionally related to the economic order in a variety of ways ( Gerth and Mills, 1958: 49; Allen, 2004). 7.2. Marx and Weber Dialogue on Religion Generally, the dialogues between Max Weber and Karl Marx on the above issues Marx clearly says that he is not against religion are listed below per se, but against a system that requires the Karl Marx Max Weber His study of capitalism was restricted by Weber includes Eastern societies, and drew on Western societies (primarily England) the comparative study of the economic Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 181

conditions of various countries He understood capitalism in terms of its underlying productive forces that shape the systems of social relations He understood capitalism as a system of social actions under lied by interconnection among its various spheres, where none is dominant Theoretical work could only be verified by its ability to promote change and eliminate inequality The role of social theory is to search for valid historical patterns and relationships, rather than to change them He emphasized on social and cultural in history in order to explain economic sphere, it is the political power that dominate the economic plan He emphasized the major sphere of society (political, economy, religious) are equally dominant in society, it is the status and party affiliations He believed that the origin of the rise of capitalism in western world was economic factor He defined social class in terms of common relationship between a group of individuals and means of production It is non economic factors Class is a group of people who shared situations is a possible based on market situations and means of consumption Individuals are the carriers of class interest The actions of individuals are likely to vary according to their occupations and the size of the group affected by the class situations Class struggle is necessary for the avoidances Class struggle will be occurred when the Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 182

of the system between the proletariat and the capitalists separation of management from the ownership of capital undermined the structural conditions The key function of political power is creating the way of accumulating capital for the purpose of labour exploitation The key function of modern political power is the mitigation of the problems of class structure Bureaucracy is the systems to expand the capitals profit and deteriorate the capacity of the workers in the forms of division of labour, drafting laws, creating positions, hierarchical systems, impersonal rules, a clear cut separation of public and private Bureaucracy enables an organization to discharge official business precisely with as much speed as humanly possible Religious is an independent variable for the rise of capitalism Capitalism is an independent variable for religious Source: The reviewer of this thesis, 2016 8. The Argument of Max Weber It may have variety arguments which have been contributed by Max Weber, but the most dominant arguments of Max Weber were: Economic order, to be the central, but rational bureaucracy, rather than class struggle was of paramount importance in determining the precise position of different communities (Ritzer, 2011). To understand any social states of affairs or societal conditions are to understand the actions of individual members there in (Brubaker, 1984) Weber argued that the conditions of the appropriation of material means of production, market freedom, rational Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 183

technology, calculate law, administration, formally free labor person who voluntary sell their labor power, and the commercialization of economic life are the necessary ingredients in the rise of capitalism (Ritzer, 2011). Religious life is an independent variable for the rise of capitalism (Giddens, 1970). Weber represents a remarkable fusion of historical research and sociological theorizing (Hadden, 1997) 9. The Main Contribution of Max Weber Different classical and contemporary sociologists have contributed to the development of sociology; Weber was one of the classic sociologists that gave his attention on the development of sociology (Turner, 1999; Ritzer, 2011). The main contributions of Weber for the current sociology as well as society are: Vertehen in his historical research is one of his best known contributions to the methodology of contemporary sociology; the task of sociological analysis involved The interpretation of actions in terms of its subjective meaning. This methodology has been applied by the recent sociologists (Ritzer, 2011). Sociologists try to apply Weber s method to their own research or, even more, when they attempt to teach verstehen to others. Clearly, the method involves systematic and rigorous research. This has had some to relegate Vertehen to a holistic operation of discovering the real scientific work of sociology (Shields, 1996). Ideal type, as Weber believed, supports to sociology to develop conceptual tools, it is more functional for developing theory; Ideal type constitutes the theoretical building blocks for the construction of a variety of theoretical model as today sociologists have applied for the construction of theory from Concepts Statement Format (Meta theoretical schemes, analytical schemes, propositional schemes, and modeling schemes). These are the elements of theory in sociology (Kalberg, 1985). Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 184

He popularly contributed to the development of medical sociology in studying about the analysis of mental processes and the resulting meaningful actions (Sociologyguide.com) He was making the distinction methodology between methods of science and philosophy of science. He said methods of science are the steps, procedures used by the scientists to conduct research: the methodology of research. Philosophy of science is concerned about the sprits and the ethos of science (Weber, 1958a) Weber is the first scholar and sociologist to conceptualize that sociology is not prescriptive discipline, rather it is a descriptive and interpretative discipline (Sociologyguide.com) He detailed and sophisticated analysis of the rationalization of phenomena as sociology of music (Sociologyguide.com) The ideas of bureaucracy and its stages and character, and the occupational structure widely explored by Max Weber (Ritzer, 2011). The driving forces for the rise of capitalism was ascetic, but not rationality (Salomon, 1935). The creation of a new mentality in the economy system can t be considered as the results of Protestantism ( Lowith, 1993). Please note that if Max Weber wasn t explore the above ideas as well as contributions, the recent society s problems couldn t be solved via descriptive research method and the like, and the discipline of sociology would be under endangered (sociologyguide.com). 10. The Setbacks of Weber during his Studying Sociology They may have different hindrances was being occurred when Weber studied sociology during his golden time, but some of the setbacks where were emerged during his studying period were: 1. Weber was not intimately familiar with Marx s work (much was not published until after death). It made hindrances for Weber to rejoin the basic assumptions of Karl Marx (Antonio, 1985: 20). Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 185

2. They had not get precise empirical data from the previous historical instances to study about his duly societies (Sayer, 1991). 3. He was mostly influenced by the Karl Marx s ideology followers and social democratic movement when he wrote and disseminated his ideas for the societies (Herva, 1988). 11. Critical Discussion The reviewer has looked Weber s work in strengthen and weakness parts. So, what the reviewer of this book wants to put the strengthen part on the work of Weber in here that: The author used different methods as multi- angular lenses in studying about it in different social life in history, which means Weber appeared to offer a much more round approach to the social world during his studies on Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism. Weber intended to study his work based on causes and effects relations in more probable The reviewer admire to Weber for describing about the ethos of religion is one of the variables that enable to come the expansion of capitalism and well economic life through the name of religious dogma because this idea is incredibly applied to the private sectors today in Ethiopia. And, what the reviewer has observed the works of Max Weber on the negative side are: Weber spent most of his life doing detailed historical studies, not finding and doing historical empirical data Mostly his life span had passed on the studying of religion and capitalism to rejoin the work of Karl Marx even if the duly societies were under troubles in various social disorders like the eve of world war first. The author of the study couldn t describe about gender based explanation when he studied The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of capitalism If the reviewer were given a chance to conduct this research, the reviewer will try to improve the quality of the book by doing appropriate sample selection from the Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 186

entire continent instead of only focusing on European and some Asian religious and their economy background. In addition to this, the reviewer will develop quantitative and qualitative empirical data to be investigated for the internal consistence of the research. 12. Ethical Considerations Weber s thesis could not attempt to follow the procedures of research and following the professional writing systems because there are no citations and references, except index. In contrast, the researcher doesn t violate the confidentiality guarantees of the participant since the reviewer not observed the names of the individuals as well as any situations that put the research participants at risk of harm as the result of their participation. 13. Other Scholars on the Thesis of Max Weber The reviewer of this thesis has found that some scholars like the American sociologist Gerhard Lenski, and Peter L. Berger and David Martin have argued for the thesis of Max Weber on their studies Religious Impact on Politics and Protestant Revolution in Latin America respectively. And, other scholars like David Cantoni and Dudley and Blum have argued against the thesis of Weber on their studies The Economic Effects of the Protestant Reformation and Religion and Economic Growth respectively. 14. The Current Situations on the Max Weber s Idea The reviewer of this article has searched for what the Weber s ideas seem like to internationally and nationally today. The reviewer observed that the famous international companies like Microsoft Company, MacDonald transnational Company are managed by the Protestants. In Ethiopian context, Dembel, giant real states, different Construction Company like Yen Command Construction Company, Alemayehu Ketema General Construction, and huge private companies are led and managed by the Protestants. 15. The Critiques of Max Weber Weber never views society as organic and holistic entities and social world with delineated boundaries (Herva, 1998; Parson, 1967). Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 187

Weber couldn t have used research techniques and procedures for his work (Ritzer, 2011). Weber rejects the assumption that the origin of economic ethic for the purpose of the exploitation of labour power (Lowith, 1993). The spirits of capitalism are superficial for keeping the benefits of the whole societies (Sayer, 1991) Dialectical materials on class struggle, not dialectical philosophy, are necessary for the elimination of the system of capitalism (Marx,1843 quoted in Ritzer, 2011) religious system (Protestant) that played a key role in the rise of rational economic system (capitalism). The rationales that Weber s work on The Protestant Ethics and The Spirits of Capitalism were; to describe how the Protestant Ethic to societal domain and social carrier and their relationships to one another leads to a concern with social change, to explain the general issues of why Protestant institutions in the western world had grown progressively more rational while powerful barriers seemed to prevent a similar development in the rest of the world, and to identify relationship among a variety of the world s religions and the development only in the West of capitalist economy system. The main intention areas of Max Weber to Conclusion study about The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism were: Weber wanted to illustrate At the same time as summarizing major how the origin of a peculiar spirit that reviews to The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit eventually made modern rational capitalism in of Capitalism initiated over the past decades, the Western Europe., and Weber needed to this paper also points to numerous ways in demonstrate and rejoin how history and which the reviewing on The Protestant Ethic economy had come over to modern western and The Spirit of Capitalism made more societies based on German Historical School effective. In particular, it emphasizes how the and Marxist School of Economics. west developed a distinctively rational Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 188

Max Weber has used comparative-historical sociology research method, ideal type, verstehen, causality research methods. Primary and secondary data collection instruments have been also used by Weber. Weber has debated to the work of Marx on religion and Economy. Among their dialogue Marx believed capitalism as an independent variable of religion, but Weber stated capitalism as a dependent variable of religion. Weber also argued a remarkable fusion of historical research and sociological theorizing, to understand any social states of affairs or societal conditions are to understand the actions of individual members there in. The reviewer critical discussions on the strength and the weakness parts have also been described. And, the ethical considerations of Weber has been illustrated, and finally the critiques of Weber which were given by functionalists and conflict theorist have been involved on his study REFERENCES Allen, Kieran.2004. Max Weber s Critical introduction. Ca: Pluto Press Antonio, L.J. and Glassman.R.M. eds. 1985. A Weber- Marx Dialogue. Lawrence, Kensas: University Press of Kansas Antonio, Robert J. 1985. A Weber- Marx Dialogue. Lawrence: University Press of Kensas Blum A. and Dudley H. 2001. Religion and Economy Growth: Was Weber Right? Bryman, Alan.1988. Quantity and Quality in Social Research. Contemporary Social Research Series. General Editor Martin Blumer. UCL Press and Routledge. Brubaker, Rogers. 1984. The Limits of Rationality: An Essayon the Social and Moral Thought of Max Weber. London: Allen and Unwin. Burder, Thomas. 1976. Wax Weber s Theory of Concept Formation: History, Laws and Idea Types: Durhen, N.C.; Duke University Presss Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 189

Cantoni, David. 2009. The Economic Effects on the Protestant Reformation: Testing the Weber Hypothesis in the German Land Giddens, Antony. 1970. Max, Weber, and the Development of Capitalism: Sociology. Vo.4 (No 4), 1970 Giddens, Antony eds. 2005. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirits of Capitalism: Translated by Talcot Parson. Publishers: Taylor and Francis Group, 2005. Hadden, Richard. 1997. Sociological Theory: An Introduction to the Classical Tradition. Ca: Broad View press Herva, Soma. 1988. The Genesis of Max Weber s Verstehende Sociologie. Acta Sociologic 31: 146 Kalberg, Stephen.1985. 1985 The Role of Ideal Interests in Max Weber s Comparative Historical Sociology. In R. J. Antonio and R. M. Glassman (eds.), A Weber-Marx Dialogue. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas:46 67. Kalberg, Stephen. 1997. Max Weber s Sociology: Research Strategies and Modes of Analysis. In Charles Camic (ed.), Reclaiming the Sociological Classics: The State of Scholarship. Oxford: Blackwell:208 241. Leary, Mark R. 2001. Introduction to behavioral research methods / Mark Leary.-3rd ed. Wake Forest University press Lenski, Gerhard. 1963. The Religious Factor: A Sociological Study of Religious Impact on Politics, Economics, and Family Life. Revised Edition, Garden City pp 350-352 Lowith, K. 1993. Max Weber and Karl Marx. London: Routledge Parson, Talcot. 1967. Capitalism in Recent German Literature: Sobart and Weber. Part 1 and 2 Available online:http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/ijss/ P a g e 190

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